Admissions Overview

Application ProcessPlease ensure
that you complete all items on the application prior to
submitting it to the Office of Admissions so that review of
your application is not delayed.

Critical Dates for Application We
strongly suggest that applications be filed as soon as
possible after September 1, and preferably before April 1.
Because we have a rolling admissions process, it is to your
advantage to submit and complete your application as early
as possible.

Application Process

1. Application for AdmissionYou
should complete, sign and submit the application for
admission to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible
after September 1, and preferably before April 1 for the
next school year. You may
submit your application online or you may
request application materials from the Office of
Admissions (713-313-7114).

2. Personal StatementA personal
statement must accompany the application for admission. The
personal essay is your opportunity to address the Admissions
Committee. It provides you with the opportunity to highlight
information or insights that will assist in the
decision-making process.

3. RésuméEach applicant must submit
a current résumé.

4. Letters of RecommendationLetters
of recommendation are important in the selection process.
You must submit at least two letters of recommendation. Each
letter that you submit should be written by someone who
knows your academic ability or is in a position to assess
your potential for success in law school. We strongly
discourage obtaining letters of recommendation from friends,
acquaintances, and/or family members. We realize that some
applicants, especially those who have been out of school for
a number of years, may have difficulty finding an academic
recommender. If that is the case, letters from employers or
others who have worked closely with you will be helpful.
We recommend that your letters be submitted through the LSAC
letter of recommendation service that serves all member law schools. This service is included in your LSDAS
subscription. To use this service, follow the directions for
submitting letters outlined in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration
and Information Book. LSAC letter of recommendation forms
may also be downloaded from the LSAC web site. Be sure to
fill out and give each recommender an LSAC letter of
recommendation form.

5 . Application FeeA non-refundable $55 application fee, paid by
cashier’s check or money order to Thurgood Marshall School
of Law must accompany the application form.

6. Law School Admission Test (LSAT)All applicants for admission as J.D. candidates
must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and have
their scores reported to Texas Southern University –
Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Additional information
about the LSAT may be obtained from the Law School Admission
Council, Box 2000, Newtown, PA, 18940-0998.

7. Character
& Fitness NoticeAll applicants who intend to practice law should be aware
that admission to the bar in all states involves character,
fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are
encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the
state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the
website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at
http:www.ncbex.org/.

Admission DecisionsAdmission
decisions are announced in writing only. Information about
applicants is not released to third parties. Completed
applications are reviewed beginning in December, and
decisions are made continuously until all completed
applications have been read. The Admissions Committee does
not review applications that are incomplete. Decisions on
completed applications may be made in as short a period as
two weeks or as long a period as several months. The period
of time varies according to the total number of applications
received, when in the admissions cycle the file is
completed, and the time required to review an applicant’s
qualifications and evaluate them on their own merit in
comparison to the rest of the applicant pool.

DepositsEach applicant who is
accepted is required to submit a $250 seat deposit. The
deposit is only refundable if you matriculate into the
Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The deposit is requested in
two installments and is due on the dates stated in the
acceptance letter. Applicant’s who miss a deposit deadline
risk losing their seats in the entering class as well as any
scholarship offers that may have been made to them.

Deferral of AdmissionApplicants
who have been admitted but whose circumstances have changed
may ask to defer their admission for one year. A limited
number of one-year deferrals are granted each year based on
the circumstance. Deferrals are not automatic and, if
granted, a non-refundable deposit is required to hold a
place in the following year’s entering class.Students
who wish to request a deferral should write a letter
explaining the reasons for the deferral request and submit
it to Edward W. René, Assistant Dean for
Admissions, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 3100 Cleburne,
Houston, Texas 77004.